Thoughts on Rockies, plus notes, after 9-8, 11-inning loss to Braves

OK, a little editorializing, followed by some notes, before I leave the ballpark.

The Rockies’ moral victories are getting old in a hurry. The players I talked to in the clubhouse after Friday night’s 9-8, 11-inning loss to Atlanta talked a good postgame, but this has got to be eating them up.

To score five runs in the first inning off Tim Hudson, then lose in your home park, is a killer. Lack of consistent starting pitching is an albatross that’s getting heavier by the day.

Here’s what manager Jim Tracy said: “The effort tonight, again, A-plus, that’s all you can say about it; we left it all out there. But the unfortunate thing as far as I’m concerned is when you face a starter of the caliber of Tim Hudson, to ding him as badly as we did in the first inning of the game and then let them get back in …”

He didn’t finish the thought, but he did have something more to say about starter Guillermo Moscoso, who was gone after 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and walking three. Moscoso had major problems commanding his pitches, throwing just 43 strikes in 83 pitches.

“Four-and-a-third innings from the starting pitcher, roughly as many balls as they were strikes, and as a result of the outing let them back into the game and used more bullpen innings than starter innings,” Tracy said.

Michael Cuddyer, who grounded out to end the game, said: “These are definitely tough games to lose. But all you can keep doing is fighting and grinding it out, and hopefully things start changing. But it’s definitely frustrating, no question.”

Here are some notes of note:

* When the Rockies held a 5-0 lead after the first inning, they seemed on their way to victory. Except that they weren’t. Friday night marked the first time this season Colorado led by three-plus runs at some point and lost.

* Moscoso, FYI, has allowed six runs in each of his two starts this season. His ERA is 11.57.

* Todd Helton snapped and 0-for-9 skid with a two-run single in the first inning. He hit a double in the sixth for his 561st career double, passing Eddie Murray and Jeff Kent for sole possession of 21st on the all-time doubles list . It also was his 948th career extra-base hit, tying him with Billy Williams for 48th on the all-time list.

* Jonathan Herrera hit his second home run of the season — a solo shot in the fifth inning to tie the game 6-6.

* I think I hexed Carlos Gonzalez. I wrote about his hot streak in Friday morning’s paper, then watched him go 0-for-5 (with a walk) to snap his six-game hitting streak.

* First baseman Freddie Freeman continues to rock the Rockies. He had a career-high four hits, including a two-run homer to right field in the third inning. In his career vs. the Rockies, he’s hitting .474 (18-for-38) with seven home runs and 13 RBIs in nine games. Freeman’s seven home runs against the Rockies are more than double the amount he has against any other opponent.

Nice to read some upfront writing by Patrick here, we are all thinking the same things. This is exactly where a well timed piece on Dan O’Dowd, and how most of the Rockies failure on the field is his fault. Not Jim Tracy, not the players, not ownership, no, no, no, Dan O’Dowd is responsible. Quite possibly the most overrated GM in the history of baseball folks, anyone remember O’Dowd signing those studs Neagle and Hampton? Who got rid of Castilla, Bichette, Holliday, and Jimenez, yup, you guessed it O’Dowd.

Kimconerty3

To Whom It May Concern,

Yesterday, 4 May 2012, my son was
with a trip with his school to see the Denver Rockies play baseball. He chose to wear his Los Angeles Dodgers
jersey and hat; we are and have been Dodgers fans. When my 10 year old son
Brandon was in line after they made it through the ticket gates, he was grabbed
by an employee of the Rockies, and told “you better rip that stuff off or I
will do it for you”. First off why would
someone grab a child and put his hands on him and then to threaten him. This is
unacceptable behavior.

There were not any rules as to being only a
Rockies fan or on what to wear to the game.
I am so upset that someone else grabbed my son by the arm and pulled him
out of line in front of all his friends, and threatened him. This person should
not work for any public place. My son was so scared he never thought to get a
name or tell one of the chaperones. He did what he was told and removed his
Dodgers jersey and hat. They then forced him to wear a Rockies shirt, when he
had a shirt on under the jersey. I have been to several Major League Baseball
games and have never been told what team I could support or not support.

The school came through gate A
and was shuffled through. My son is so shaken up over all of this all he
remembers is it was a man with the words employee on his back and was around 40
years of age. He had nightmares last
night of being grabbed. I do not think anyone should ever grab a child in this
manner. I am so disappointed in the Rockies employees and the way this was all
handled. I will be taking this as far as I am able; this is a situation that
should not have happened. What ever happened to freedom of speech, freedom to
be an individual? I realize the tickets were bought or donated by a third
party, however, I never once saw on any permission slip saying what the kids
should wear. This situation should be an eye opener for all involved, from the
school to the team to the employees.

A child should not be made to
fear liking a specific team. The threat that was made to my child is horrible.
He should have never been treated in such a manner, he is only 10. If the
person would have talked to a teacher and asked him to remove his jersey that
would have been better than just grabbing a child and pulling him aside and threatening
him, this is not ok to do to anyone.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Conerty

joe red

You might mention the miserable bullpen that give up hits, walks, runs and stinks the same way the miserable starting staff does. Every relief pitcher in that game yesterday got beat up, down, over and out. After O’Dowd is fired, the new g.m. will have to clean house, getting rid of every picher on the staff and bringing in anybody from anywhere.

Matt Thompson

Yeah, not to be misunderstood here, my point is that O’Dowd is responsible for bringing in all of those poor excuse for pitchers. Last year alone he shipped out Hammel (killing it in Baltimore right now), shipped out Paulino, Grilli, and Morales, who are all thriving with different team right now, and that just covers pitching. Oh and then he brings in Gutherie who is awful now and was awful back with Baltimore, and look where he is, on the DL because he fell off a frickin’ bike. Nuff said.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.